Preamble

The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

Edinburgh Corporation (Sheriff Court House, etc.) Order Confirmation Bill. (By Order.)

Second Reading deferred until Tomorrow.

PRIVATE LEGISLATION PROCE DURE (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1899.

Address for
Return of all the Draft Provisional Orders under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, which in the Session of 1930–31 have been reported on by the Commissioners; together with the names of the Commissioners; the first and also the last day of the Sittings of each group; the number of days on which each body of Commissioners sat; the number of days on which each Commissioner has served; the number of days occupied by each Draft Provisional Order before Commissioners; the Draft Provisional Orders the Preambles of which were reported to have been proved; and the Draft Provisional Orders the Preambles of which were reported to have been not proved:
And also a Statement showing how all Draft Provisional Orders of the Session of 1930–31 have been dealt with."—[Sir A. Sinclair.]

Oral Answers to Questions — AIRCRAFT INSURANCE (THIRD PARTY RISKS).

Lieut.-Colonel Sir GODFREY DALRYMPLE-WHITE: 2.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, if his attention has been called to the dangerously low flying of certain aircraft over villages; and whether consideration has been given to compulsory insurance against third-party risks, such as is the case with motor vehicles, for both private and Royal Air Force aircraft?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon): Yes, Sir, occasional complaints of the kind referred to have been received, although none are of very recent date. The question of compulsory insurance against third-party risks in respect of civil aircraft is under active consideration by an international committee of jurists, on which this country is represented, in connection with the preparation of an international convention as to liability for damage caused by aircraft to third parties on the ground. Any damage by Royal Air Force aircraft would be dealt with under the ordinary procedure for cases of claims for compensation against the Crown.

Oral Answers to Questions — TRADE AND COMMERCE.

SWEETS (IMPORTED INGREDIENTS).

Commander SOUTHBY: 3.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount and value of liquid glucose imported from Russia during the last 12 months; whether he is aware that sweets made wholly with this foreign material have to be marked as such, whereas sweets which contain a large proportion of this material are being marketed as of British manufacture; and whether, in the interests of British consumers, he will take steps to see that any sweets which contain a proportion of foreign material shall be clearly marked as such, and that only such sweets as contain ingredients which are wholly manufactured in this country shall be sold as British sweets?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister): During the 12 months ended the 31st August, 1931, the imports of liquid glucose into the United Kingdom registered as consigned from the Soviet Union amounted to 192,599 cwts. of a declared value of £104,704. As regards the second part of the question, I am not aware of any specific requirement that sweets made wholly of foreign material must be marked accordingly.

Commander SOUTHBY: Will the right hon. Gentleman consider having a marking order made, so that consumers may know whether the sweets are entirely of British manufacture?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: It is open to the sweet manufacturers in this country to make application for a marking order under the Merchandise Marks Act, and, if such an application were made, it would be referred to the committee.

BRITISH GOODS (NATIONAL ORGANISATION).

Major CARVER: 5.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps have yet been taken to establish a national organisation to popularise the need for buying British goods as against foreign imported articles?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: I understand that the Prime Minister has given his approval to the institution of national organisation to promote both wise spending and the voluntary purchase of British goods. The formation of the organisation is almost complete, and it is hoped that a further announcement will be made with regard to it within the next few days.

Major CARVER: Will the new organisation be entirely separate from the Empire Marketing Board?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: Yes, I think so. I hope to meet, the day after to-morrow, a number of the people who are going to organise it, but I think it is very important that in any movement of this kind all the agencies which can do some good work should be co-ordinated.

Mr. LOGAN: Is that the function of a national party?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: The function of a national party is to promote the national well-being.

GRAIN CONTRACTS (PAYMENT IN STERLING).

Mr. MUGGERIDGE: 8.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that foreign importers have intimated to the London Corn Trade Association that they will not carry out their contracts for delivery of grain to this country made prior to 20th September unless they are promised payment in gold sterling or other money of gold parity; and what steps he proposes taking to protect consumers by insuring the fulfilment of contract in this supply?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: I understand that such an intimation was re-
ceived by the London Corn Trade Association from some foreign suppliers and that the association made the necessary representations to the parties concerned. I am now advised that practically all shippers of grain have agreed to carry out their obligations under their contracts and have accepted, since the 20th September, payment in sterling without demur.

Mr. MUGGERIDGE: Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Russian Government gave notice, through their sole agents in this country, that they were prepared to fulfil all their contracts exactly as they were made, irrespective of the date on which they were made?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: I should not like it to be supposed that paying their obligations in due season was confined to any one country. The great bulk of vendors to this country, of all nationalities, were at once prepared to accept our sterling obligations in sterling.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR: Did the right hon. Gentleman say that the nationals of all countries have agreed to fulfil their contracts entered into in sterling?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: I think that practically all have agreed. There may be a few outstanding cases where Borne contracts are still in dispute, but, broadly, the contracts are all being carried out, and it is fair to say that the great bulk of these contracts were carried out in the proper way from the start.

Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER: Are these outstanding questions French contracts?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: No; I am speaking without notice, but I do not think any question—

Mr. SPEAKER: That question does not arise.

RUSSIA.

Commander BELLAIRS: 8.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a comparison of the chief articles exported by this country to Russia in 1913, with the amounts we exported in 1930 to Soviet Russia?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: Yes, Sir. I will circulate the desired information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Commander BELLAIRS: With regard to the figures, do they generally show that a system of virtual prohibition is in force against goods that we might desire to sell to Russia?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: There are two pages of figures, and I do not think I could do the mental arithmetic sum necessary to give the answer.

The following table shows the total quantity and declared value of merchandise exported from the United Kingdom and consigned to Russia in 1913 and to the Soviet Union in 1930, distinguishing the principal commodities.


—
Unit of Quantity.
Quantity.
Declared Value.


1913.
1930.
1913.
1930.


Exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures.



£
£


Herrings—cured or salted, not canned.
Cwt.
3,566,155
182,295
1,988,177
121,531


Margarine
Cwt.
10
59,324
33
194,891


Sugar, refined
Cwt.
35
2,597,011
40
1,408,826


Coal
Ton
5,998,434
39,428
4,336,582
29,286


Wool raw—sheeps' and lambs'.
Cental of 100 lbs.
41,614
11,597
307,014
106,933


Wool noils
Cwt.
46,624
3,049
338,405
26,302


Woollen rags
Cwt.
22,518
36,963
77,224
118,952


Ammonium sulphate
Ton
(a)
68,197
(a)
500,623


Cotton yarns
Lb.
2,447,100
189,490
261,518
50,572


Cotton manufactures (except apparel and embroidery).
Value
—
—
523,755
1,069


Implements, tools, etc.
Value
—
—
252,789
(a)


Machinery and parts thereof
Ton
71,203
27,779
3,926,530
2,692,660


Iron and Steel and manufactures thereof.
Ton
84,373
5,972
1,017,891
374,715


Nickel in pellets, cubes, etc.
Ton
(a)
640
(a)
108,800


Tin Blocks, Ingots, Bars and Slabs.
Ton
1,415
39
295,038
5,400


Aeroplanes and parts thereof
Value
—
—
54
43,974


Ships and Boats (New) complete.
Gross ton
24,768
(a)
643,466
(a)


Wool tops (other than merino).
Cental of 100 lbs.
11,763
25,716
103,903
320,867


Woollen and Worsted yarns
Lb.
2,932,000
24,971
469,977
2,931




Linear yds.
Sq.yds.




Woollen and Worsted tissues.

883,700
79,914
331,840
20,716


Arms and Ammunition and military and naval stores.
Value
—
—
40,459
41,919


All other articles
Value
—
—
3,187,988
600,979


Total Domestic Exports
Value
—
—
18,102,683
6,771,946


(a) Included in "All other articles."

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR: Will the right hon. Gentleman bring these figures more up to date, and give the first eight months of this year?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: If the hon. Gentleman wants these figures, per he will put a question on the Paper.

Mr. HAYCOCK: Do you think the kind of question that we have been getting will help us to get what we want from Russia?

Following is the reply:

—
Unit of Quantity.
Quantity.
Declared Value.


1913.
1930.
1913.
1930.


Exports of Imported Merchandise.



£
£


Tea
Lb.
10,160,656
7,525,019
414,766
406,556


Cocoa, raw
Cwt.
16,827
3,017
59,274
5,172


Coffee, not kiln-dried, not roasted or ground.
Cwt.
15,672
(a)
64,139
(a)


Bacon
Cwt.
17,705
(a)
63,034
(a)


Fruit and nuts, raw
Value
—
—
54,659
(a)


Cotton, raw (except linters)
Cental of 100 lbs.
1,108,999
31,866
3,832,221
134,331


Hemp, not dressed
Ton
—
2,180
(a)
64,325


Rubber, crude
Cental of 100 lbs.
142,326
170,546
2,205,205
623,380


Castor seed
Ton
11,179
(a)
134,934
(a)


Nuts and kernels for expressing oil therefrom.
Ton
11,285
(a)
327,663
(a)


Wool, raw—sheeps' and lambs'.
Cental of 100 lbs.
3,837
202
33,064
1,021


Palm and palm kernel oil, unrefined.
Ton
2,679
(a)
77,045
(a)


Tallow, unrefined
Ton
20,888
(a)
726,409
(a)


Jute, raw
Ton
3,485
(a)
110,620
(a)


Leather, dressed and undressed.
Cwt.
1,408
(a)
39,360
(a)


Copper bars, blocks, slabs, ingots and cakes.
Ton
(a)
625
(a)
34,515


Lead, pig and sheet
Ton
6,604
29,988
118,528
558,103


Tin, blocks, ingots, bars and slabs
Ton
338
2,637
70,620
489,501


Zinc, crude
Ton
(a)
2,970
(a)
55,246


Machinery and parts thereof
Ton
11,298
(a)
415,746
(a)


Wood and timber manufactures.
Value
—
—
237,743
(a)


All other articles
Value
—
—
606,240
147,205


Total Re-exports
Value
—
—
9,591,270
2,519,365


(a) Included in "All other articles."

Commander BELLAIRS: 7.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the general terms of the decree issued in May, 1931, regulating trade of foreigners with Soviet Russia and of Soviet State and co-operative organisations with foreigners; and whether those orders have been in any way altered since then?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: The decree to which my hon. and gallant Friend no doubt refers is that issued on 11th March, which was supplemented by regulations issued on 23rd April. The decree was substantially a re-enactment of existing legislation and the regulations prescribed the procedure to be followed by foreign firms in applying for permission to carry on trading operations in
Soviet territory, such procedure not differing in any important respect from that hitherto in force. A full summary of Soviet law on the subject, which has not, so far as I am aware, been amended since, will be found in paragraph 17 of the Report on the Organisation of the Foreign Trade of the Soviet Union, by the Commercial Counsellor to His Majesty's Embassy in Moscow, issued in June last (Cmd. 3904), copy of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend.

Duchess of ATHOLL: 18.
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the sums outstanding to date that have been guaranteed to Russia and to all other countries, respectively, under the Export Credits scheme?

Sir HILTON YOUNG (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department): The total amount of credits which the Department had up to the 3rd October contracted to guarantee in respect of exports to Russia and to all other countries was £10,893,106 and £15,787,612, respectively. The total liability assumed under these contracts was £6,906,240 and £10,946,362, respectively.

BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR.

Mr. KELLY: 19.
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the cost of the cheapest stand obtainable at the textile section of the British Industries Fair, exclusive of the cost of certain fittings, compared with the cost of a corresponding stand at Olympia in 1931; whether he can make arrangements for some cheaper stands to be available; and whether the nature of the contracts entered into between exhibitors and Exhibition Organisers, Limited, precludes his Department from effecting any reduction in the charges for space?

Sir H. YOUNG: The cheapest stand in the textile section at the White City in 1932 will cost £50. This includes charges for space, stand construction, stand lighting and the mannequin parade. At Olympia in 1931 a stand of the same dimensions could have been obtained for £33 under the Department's inclusive scheme for space, stand construction and lighting, but the stand and lighting would not have been of the high standard adopted at the White City at the special request of the textile industry.
The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
I do not understand the third part. The Department has no power to vary existing contracts.

Mr. KELLY: In view of the cheapness of the material and the cheapness in other directions with regard to construction, can nothing be done by the right hon. Gentleman's Department to prevail on these people to charge a lower price than and, with regard to the last part, cannot the Department make some recommendations to these people for a reduction in the charges?

Sir H. YOUNG: The hon. Member will be aware that I answered that question
on a previous occasion. The answer was that the business has to be self-supporting, and, in view of that circumstance, it is not possible to make any reductions in charges.

BLIND PERSONS, MIDDLESEX (GRANTS).

Mr. R. MORRISON: 11.
asked the Minister of Health, whether he is aware that the Blind Persons Sub-Committee of the Middlesex County Council has passed a recommendation to reduce their grants to the unemployable blind by 2s. 6d. per week; and whether the Ministry has indicated to local authorities that economy should be exercised in this direction?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Chamberlain): The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and, to the second part in the negative. The advice tendered by the Government to local authorities on the question of the reduction of local expenditure is contained in Circular 1222, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

Mr. MORRISON: Will not the right hon. Gentleman take steps to inform the local authorities? It surely ought not to be necessary to ask the unemployable blind to tighten their belts in this crisis?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: I think the Circular I have already issued to the local authorities deals with the matter as far as it is possible.

Mr. MORRISON: Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether his consent will be necessary to a reduction by the Middlesex County Council?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: indicated dissent.

Oral Answers to Questions — HOUSING.

NON-PARLOUR HOUSES.

Major NATHAN: 12.
asked the Minister of Health the average superficial area of A-type non-parlour houses in direct labour schemes and in contracts let by local authorities in England and Wales during the period January-June, 1931?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: 758 square feet in contracts and 759 square feet in direct labour schemes.

REPAIRS.

Mr. STEPHEN (for Mr. MACLEAN): 13.
asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many houses are becoming uninhabitable through the neglect of the owners to repair them; and whether he will consider the issuing of instructions to local authorities to compel owners to spend the percentage increase of rents for repairs upon the necessary repairs of these houses and thereby increase employment in the building trades?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: The issue of certificates on the application of tenants under the Rent Restrictions Acts is within the discretion of local authorities and I am not empowered to issue such instructions as the hon. Member suggests.

Mr. STEPHEN: Is the right hon. Gentleman not going to take steps under the Emergency Powers Act to reduce rents in view of the hardships of the people at the present time?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: The question on the Paper has nothing to do with the reduction of rents.

Oral Answers to Questions — NATIONAL FINANCE.

EDUCATION (ECONOMIES).

Mr. EDE: 21.
asked the President of the Board of Education the total amount of the economies he now anticipates making as a result of the policy of His Majesty's Government?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Sir Donald Maclean): It is now estimated that as a result of the Government's proposals, there will be a saving of £7,123,000 in the first full year, as compared with the figure of £9,400,000 given on page 5 of the White Paper (Cmd. 3952).

Mr. EDE: Are we to understand, then, that, as the result of the right hon. Gentleman's policy, the Budget has become unbalanced again?

Sir D. MACLEAN: Nothing of the kind.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR: Are there any offsets against these economies; is there any increase in the obligations of the Government which will come into the Budget?

MINISTERS OF THE CROWN (SALARIES AND FEES).

Mr. O. LEWIS: 28.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the sum total paid by way of salaries and fees to the Ministers of the Crown from 5th June, 1929, to 24th August, 1931, or the nearest convenient dates?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Major Elliot): I am having the information prepared and will send it to my hon. Friend.

ASSISTANT PAYMASTER-GENERAL (SALARY).

Mr. KELLY: 34.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury for what reason the basic salary of the Assistant Paymaster-General, which was shown in 1924–25 Estimates as £1,000, has since been increased, to £1,500; and whether, in connection with the economy proposals now in contemplation, it is intended to reduce the salary to the original amount?

Major ELLIOT: Prior to his appointment as Assistant Paymaster-General the officer in question had from 1920 to 1922 been Assistant Controller and Auditor-General and he continued to draw the rate of salary which he already had. I am not in a position to say whether on the occurrence of a vacancy, the remuneration of the post should or should not be revised.

Mr. KELLY: I did not ask in regard to what will happen when a vacancy arises; but whether anything is to be done in regard to the salary of the present occupant of the office?

Major ELLIOT: The ordinary steps will apply, of course; if the question is whether any special steps will be taken, the answer is in the negative.

Oral Answers to Questions — EDUCATION.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS (FEES).

Mr. EDE: 22.
asked the President of the Board of Education the cost of educating a boy at English public residential schools which are state-aided and in comparable establishments in France, Germany and Italy?

Sir D. MACLEAN: The majority of the public schools, as that term is generally understood, are not state-aided. Of the schools represented on. the Head-
masters' Conference which are mainly residential, 11 are state-aided, and at these the tuition and boarding fees combined average about £103. I have no information in regard to comparable establishments in other countries.

STATE SCHOLARSHIPS.

Mr. EDE: 23.
asked the President of the Board of Education how many State scholarships it is proposed to award in 1932?

Sir D. MACLEAN: It is proposed that the number of State scholarships to be offered shall be 300, as in recent years.

BEER (DUTY AND PRICE).

Mr. OSWALD LEWIS: 27.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the present tax on beer would be altered if it were calculated on the same rate per unit of alcohol as the present tax on whiskey?

Major ELLIOT: It would be increased approximately two and a-half times.

Mr. MARLEY (for Mr. MORLEY): 4.
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that brewers are increasing the price of bottled beer to publicans by 9d. per dozen half-pints, and that Messrs. Arthur Guinness and Company have increased their price by 28s. 3d. per 32-gallon barrel; and what action he proposes to take?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: If the hon. Member will let me have the full facts in the cases he has in mind, I will consider them.

Oral Answers to Questions — GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

EX-SERVICE MEN (PAY).

Major NATHAN: 32.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will institute an inquiry into the rates of pay of the lower ranges of the ex-service post-War entrants to the Civil Service?

Major ELLIOT: As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, the Royal Commission on the Civil Service made recommendations as to the future of the un-established ex-service clerical personnel. These recommendations will be taken
into consideration by His Majesty's Government as soon as circumstances allow.

Mr. HARRIS: 31.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to carry out any of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service dealing with the ex-service post-War entrants in view of the rates of pay that most of them are receiving?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE: 33.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government proposes to take any and, if so, what action upon the report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service in respect of post-War entrants?

Major ELLIOT: The course of events since the publication of the report at the end of July last has prevented the Government from giving the report of the Commission the attention which it requires, but the Government propose to take it into consideration as soon as circumstances allow.

Mr. HARRIS: Does the hon. and gallant Member realise that some of these persons have less than a living wage, and will he see whether something cannot be done for them?

Mr. WALLACE: Is it proposed also to consult the organisations concerned, while the Government are considering the recommendations of the Royal Commission?

TAX OFFICE, SOUTHAMPTON.

Mr. MARLEY (for Mr. MORLEY): 20.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the present offices of His Majesty's inspectors of taxes and their staffs at Southampton are inadequate for the increased staff; and whether it is proposed to secure alternative and less crowded accommodation?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Oliver Stanley): The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; endeavours are at present being made to secure additional accommodation with a view to relieving existing congestion.

Oral Answers to Questions — UNEMPLOYMENT.

TRANSITIONAL BENEFIT.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR: 36.
asked the Minister of Labour whether any fresh instructions or regulations have yet been issued to the Employment Exchanges in connection with the administration of unemployment insurance benefit under the National Economy Bill?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton): The only instructions of this nature that have so far been issued to the Employment Exchanges are those relating to the changes in rates of contributions and benefit made by the Unemployment Insurance (No. 1) Order, 1931.

Mr. TAYLOR: Are the regulations under the Economy Bill completed, and, if not, will they be issued during the Recess?

Sir H. BETTERTON: The intention is to issue them as soon as possible after the Order-in-Council has been made.

Mr. TAYLOR: Will it be in order for the regulations to be put into operation without the consent of the House?

Sir H. BETTERTON: Oh, yes.

Mr. TAYLOR: You can do anything you like?

Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER: Are the regulations subject to the Rules Publication Act?

Sir H. BETTERTON: The right hon. Gentleman had better put that question down. I have no power to make them until the Order-in-Council is made.

Mr. TAYLOR: 37.
asked the Minister of Labour whether in determining the reference of claims for transitional benefit, under the National Economy Bill, to the Poor Law authorities, the test will be whether or not 26 weeks' benefit has been paid in the individual benefit year?

Sir H. BETTERTON: If, as I assume, the hon. Member is referring only to the operation of the restriction on insurance benefit to 26 weeks in the benefit year, the answer to his question is in the affirmative. As he no doubt knows, a number of persons are at present on transitional benefit and others will come on
to transitional payment in future on account of failure to satisfy the 30 contributions qualification, and not on account of the restriction above referred to.

Mr. TAYLOR: Will not this system of selecting the individual benefit year operate very unfairly?

Sir H. BETTERTON: No, I do not think so. This matter has been discussed at some length; the policy of the Government is known, and I have nothing to add.

Mr. TAYLOR: Will the hon. Gentleman look into this point; it is very important because it will operate very unfairly against different classes of claimants?

Mr. STEPHEN: On a point of Order. Is the hon. Gentleman who sits for one of the divisions of Dorset in order in making grunting noises?

Mr. COCKS: Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what is the position of a miner who works habitually three days a week?

Sir H. BETTERTON: I do not think that that arises out of the answer. The question asked if the test will be whether or not 26 weeks' benefit has been paid in the individual benefit year, arid I have answered that. If the hon. Gentleman has any doubt on any particular point, and he cares to write to me, I will give him a reply.

Captain CROOKSHANK: (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed that applicants for transitional payments will be interviewed by the Public Assistance Authorities in a Poor Law institution?

Sir H. BETTERTON: No, Sir. Such interviews will not take place in a Poor Law institution. Exceptions to this rule will only be allowed with the express permission of the Minister.

Mr. WINTERTON: Will these interviews take place in Poor Law offices?

Sir H. BETTERTON: I have just said that they will not take place in Poor Law institutions.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR: Can the hon. Gentleman assure us that these interviews will take place at the Employment
Exchanges or premises which are not normally used by the Poor Law authorities?

Sir H. BETTERTON: It is the intention of the Ministry that these interviews shall not take place in Poor Law institutions. Exceptions will be allowed only with the express permission of the Ministry. I think that is an assurance which might very well be taken.

Mr. MARLEY: In cases where the ordinary examination takes place at a casual ward, can we be assured that these interviews will not take place there?

Sir H. BETTERTON: Oh, yes, I can certainly give the hon. Member that assurance.

Mr. TAYLOR: Is the Minister aware that many Poor Law authorities have had to take special premises to deal with unemployed persons seeking relief under the Poor Law? Do I understand that his answer applies only to Poor Law institutions; and will the men be sent to the same premises when they are not Poor Law institutions as ordinary applicants?

Sir H. BETTERTON: As regards the first point, if the hon. Member will put down that question, I will answer it. I have given the hon. Member an express assurance that interviews will not take place in a Poor Law institution without special permission from the Ministry.

Mr. R. MORRISON: Is it intended that the public assistance committees shall sit at the Employment Exchanges?

TRAINING CENTRE, DUDLEY.

Mr. OLIVER BALDWIN: 38.
asked the Minister of Labour for what reasons it has been decided to close down the national factory training centre at Dudley?

Sir H. BETTERTON: For reasons explained in the reply to the hon. Member for Bristol West (Mr. Culverwell) on 28th September, it has been decided that it is necessary to close certain training and transfer instruction centres. Among the reasons why the Dudley Centre was selected as one of the centres to be closed for the time being, was the fact that it has been particularly difficult to find employment for the men in this area, and there is a training centre at Birmingham which will
remain open. Moreover, the buildings at Dudley are Government property and this may make it easier to retain the accommodation in readiness for re-opening later, should circumstances become more favourable.

Mr. DAY: How many centres have been closed down?

Sir H. BETTERTON: That does not arise out of the answer, and I must ask the hon. Gentleman to put it down.

Mr. MUGGERIDGE: May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether this centre has been closed down by the National Government because it is a national factory?

INDIA (MEERUT CONSPIRACY TRIAL).

Mr. STEPHEN (for Mr. W. J. BROWN): 9.
asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Meerut conspiracy case trial is shortly to be adjourned for 10 or 12 days for the Hindu religious festival of Deshara; and whether he will state the number of days the proceedings against the Meerut accused have been adjourned on religious grounds since their arrest in March, 1929?

Major Sir GEORGE HENNESSY (Treasurer of the Household): My right hon. Friend has no information regarding this adjournment. It is the usual practice for the courts in India to make short adjournments during certain religious festivals, but my right hon. Friend cannot supply the details asked for in the second part of the question.

Mr. STEPHEN: Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman convey to his right hon. Friend the reasonableness of stopping this trial altogether?

Oral Answers to Questions — COAL INDUSTRY.

GERMAN MINERS (WAGES).

Mr. HAYCOCK (for Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONE): 14.
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make any statement regarding the emergency decree issued by the German Government and the declaration by the German Ministry of Labour of a 7 per cent. wage reduction in the Ruhr coalfields with a
view to cheapening German coal as a counter to the expected revival of British trade competition?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Foot): Under Emergency decrees, dated 27th September and 30th September, the German Minister of Labour has declared binding an arbitration award reducing wages in the Ruhr coalfield by 7 per cent. for the period 1st October, 1931, to 30th November, 1931. While this award follows shortly after the abandonment in this country of the Gold Standard, I would point out to the hon. Member that, in anticipation of the expiry in September of the wages agreement, negotiations in which the owners pressed for a reduction in wages, had been in progress since June last.

Mr. HAYCOCK: Does the hon. Member think there is very much hope for the workers of the world if this kind of thing continues?

AUTOMATIC GAS ALARMS.

Mr. ERNEST WINTERTON (for Mr. TOM SMITH): 15.
asked the Secretary for Mines whether the inquiry into the use of automatic gas alarms has been completed, and, if so, the nature of the report; and whether he proposes to take any action with regard to the matter?

Mr. FOOT: I have received a report from the Safety in Mines Research Board on the recent series of pit trials with a modified form of firedamp detector, and certain inquiries are now being made at the colliery concerned to complete the information I require for a full review of the position.

Mr. WINTERTON: Have not inquiries on this subject been proceeding now for something like 18 months or two years and is there any possibility of early attention being given to this question during the Recess, considering the terrible loss of life caused through the lack of these detectors?

Mr. FOOT: I answered a question bearing on that point a few days ago, and then stated that investigations and experiments had been proceeding. We have completed those experiments, and I hope that we shall be able to come to a conclusion very shortly.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR: Have any of these gas detectors been tried at Churt?

PIT-HEAD PRICES.

Mr. HAYCOCK (for Mr. R. RICHARDSON): 16.
asked the Secretary for Mines what were the average pit-head prices for coal for the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September; and if any district has announced a rise of 2s. per ton in household coal for October?

Mr. FOOT: The estimated average proceeds per ton disposable commercially in Great Britain were as follow:

s.
d.


April
…
…
…
…
14
0


May
…
…
…
…
13
9


June
…
…
…
…
13
8


July
…
…
…
…
13
9


(provisional)

Information for later months is not yet available. In reply to the latter part of the question, I am advised that there has been an increase of 2s. per tan in the pit-head prices of household coal in those districts supplying the bulk of the household coal consumed in London.

LAND CULTIVATION.

Mr. STEPHEN (for Mr. MACLEAN): 24.
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any action is being taken by his Department to increase the number of areas which are to be placed under cultivation?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir John Gilmour): Practically all the activities of my Department are designed to encourage and increase agricultural productivity.

WOMAN'S DEATH, MARYLEBONE ROAD.

Mr. LOVAT-FRASER: 25.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the case of Annie Haughney, who was killed by falling out of a window at a private hotel in Marylebone Road; and if he will instruct the police to make full inquiries into this case?

Mr. STANLEY: My right hon. Friend has seen Press reports. The police make the necessary inquiries in cases of this kind in normal course.

"DAILY WORKER" NEWSPAPER.

Mr. STEPHEN (for Mr. W. J. BROWN): 26.
asked the Home Secretary whether he can now make any statement as to the raiding of the offices of the "Daily Worker" and the Utopia Press on 13th September and the censoring of the contents of the issue for the following day?

Mr. STANLEY: No, Sir. The position remains as indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member's question of Wednesday last.

BROADCASTING FACILITIES (POLITICAL PARTIES).

Mr. THURTLE: (by Private Notice) asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that strong feeling exists that broadcasting facilities are being used in a partisan manner so far as political broadcasts are concerned, and whether he will take steps to see that the Labour party as the main opposition to the present Government is provided with a reasonable opportunity of stating its case over the wireless.

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Ormsby-Gore): I understand that negotiations are taking place with a view to arriving at an agreed allocation of broadcasting facilities between the various parties.

Mr. THURTLE: Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the country as a whole does not accept for a moment the fiction that this is a National Government?

Commander BELLAIRS: Will the Mosley party be given reasonable facilities?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE: I should like to make it clear that I am in no sense empowered to interfere in any way with what the British Broadcasting Corporation do or do not do.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR: Is it a fact that Sir John Simon has staked a claim for this purpose?

PROCEDURE ON PUBLIC BUSINESS.

Special Report from the Select Committee, with Minutes of Evidence,
brought up, and read [Inquiry not completed].

Special Report to lie upon the Table, and to be printed.

MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.

LONDON PASSENGER TRANSPORT BILL.

That they communicate that they have come to the following Resolution:
That any notices published or served and any deposits made in respect of the London Passenger Transport Bill in the present Session, as also the Proceedings of the Select Committee of this House appointed to join with a Select Committee of the House of Commons thereon, shall be held to have been published, served, and made, and to have effect, respectively, for the Bill if the same shall be brought from the House of Commons in the next Session of Parliament.

Orders of the Day — CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) (No. 2) BILL.

Considered in Committee.

[Captain BOURNE in the Chair.]

Orders of the Day — CLAUSE 1.—(Issue of £20,700,000 out of the Consolidated Fund.)

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. STEPHEN: I would like to ask a further question about transitional benefit. Although quite a number of questions have been put, some dubiety still exists as to whether the people who apply for transitional benefit will be examined as to their means test in a Poor Law institution. The Minister of Labour—

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN: I cannot see that that question arises on this Clause.

Question put, and agreed to.

Orders of the Day — CLAUSE 2.—(Power for the Treasury to borrow.)

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. STEPHEN: I am still not quite clear, in spite of the answers that have been given relating to transitional benefit, as to whether applicants for transitional benefit will be examined in Poor Law institutions, and I would like the Parliamentary Secretary—

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN: That question does not arise on this Clause.

Question put, and agreed to.

Orders of the Day — CLAUSE 3.—(Appropriation of sums voted for supply services.)

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. STEPHEN: I would like some Member of the Government to explain the meaning of the word "institution"—

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN: No such question arises on this Clause.

Mr. KELLY: As the First Lord of the admiralty is present—

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN: No question arises on this Clause affecting the Board of Admiralty.

Question put, and agreed to.

Orders of the Day — Clause 4 (Short title) ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedules agreed to.

Bill reported, without Amendment.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."

Mr. STEPHEN: I want to make a few observations upon the Third Reading of this Measure. The House has agreed to Estimates providing a certain amount of Supply, and those Estimates are covered by this Bill. I understand that part of the money dealt with in this Bill is connected with the administration of the Ministry of Labour, and I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour to tell me how the Ministry intend to work the arrangements for paying out the money provided for in this Bill in connection with the testing of applicants for transitional benefit. I want to know whether the word "institution" includes offices of Poor Law authorities. The word "institution" may be taken in a more limited sense, and I would like to be clear as to the assurance that has been given by the Minister on this point.

Mr. ERNEST WINTERTON: I think hon. Members are in a difficulty as to the last line in the Schedule, and that we should have some more information upon it. We want to know how the money is to be expended. It is important that more light should be thrown upon the question as to the amount of additional expense which will be entailed by the proposition to make inquiries into the case of men whose transitional benefit is in jeopardy. As far as I can understand the policy of the National Government during its period of office, it has consisted in making attempts to limit the opportunities of employment for practically all classes of the community. It is clear that there will have to be new premises erected in which the applicants
for transitional benefit may be examined as to their needs. It is also clear that there will be a great many additional clerks needed to conduct the investigations required under the legislation already passed by the National Government. If I were advising anybody who was looking for a job, I should say that the likeliest possibility of getting one at this moment is to apply for a clerkship to examine the unemployed as to whether they should have their unemployment benefit considered or not. As far as I can see, that is the only contribution that has been made by this Government to the unemployment problem as we see it to-day, and I make a present of it to all the supporters of the National Government. When they go to the polls they will be able to say that the Government have at least done this one thing, that the very last moments of the present House of Commons were spent in providing money for the opening of new offices for the purpose of inquisitorial examination into the means of the unemployed, and for providing additional clerkships and inquiries so that those unemployed people may unbosom themselves in order that economies may be effected in the national income.
I want, however, to get from the Minister, if possible, some precise information on these two points: Does this Bill make provision for any approximate number of new clerks, and if so how many; and does it provide for any considerable addition of new premises? If we understand the answers of the Minister of Labour at Question Time, these men are not to be examined Poor Law institutions, which we know familiarly as workhouses. I was rather sorry that the Minister of Labour rode away from my supplementary question as to whether they were to be examined in Poor Law offices, because the administrative office of the Poor Law may not be the workhouse, but may just as easily and just as rightly be regarded as—

Mr. BEAUMONT: On a point of Order. Is it in order, Mr. Speaker, for hon. Members to read newspapers in the House?

Mr. SPEAKER: No; there is a very well understood rule that it is not in order.

Mr. WINTERTON: I am sorry that, on a matter which affects very vitally a great number of unemployed men and women in this country, and when an effort is being made to discover what provision there will be for the examination of these men and women and whether they are to be spared from the pauper taint, the only contribution that comes from the opposite benches is a frivolous interrup-tion—

Mr. BEAUMONT: On a point of Order. Is it in order, if a question is raised in defence of the Rules of this House, for it to be referred to as a frivolous interruption?

Mr. SPEAKER: It is a matter of opinion. Hon. Members may always raise, on a point of Order, anything that they think it is important to put to me.

Mr. WINTERTON: All I can say is—and you would, of course, have called me to order had I been out of order—that in my opinion, if it was not a frivolous interruption, it was a very unseemly interruption, considering the importance and seriousness of this issue to large numbers of unemployed people in this country. I want to press my hon. Friend on Ole Government Bench on these two specific points: What is the estimate of the additional aceommodation that will be required for these inquisitorial investigations into means; and, secondly, has he made any estimate of the number of additional staff that will be required in order to carry out the purpose of the Bill? Obviously, the Rear relieving officers are simply going to be crushed by the burden of work that will be imposed upon them by the Measures of the National Government, and I hope that they are going to be adequately relieved of that great burden by proper and effective assistance being granted to them. I take it that the Ministry has gone into that point, and will be able to tell the House how much of this money it is contemplated can be ear-marked for that purpose, and also what is the estimated cost of the renting of new offices or buildings for the special work which is entailed by the Measures which have been adopted by the National Government.

Mr. EDE: I want to put the point which was raised by the hon. Member for Camlachie (Mr. Stephen) definitely
before the Parliamentary Secretary with regard to my own constituency. Applicants for out-relief have their circumstances investigated at four separate points. One is the old Poor Law institution, which consists of the infirmary, the casual wards, and so on. I understand that applicants for transitional benefit will not have their circumstances investigated there. In addition to that place, there are three other places. One is the office of the defunct board of guardians, where a relief committee meets. That is not an institution; it is more than a mile and a half away; but, of course, the investigations there have hitherto been solely concerned with Poor Law cases. There are two other relief stations in other parts of the borough, where relief committees meet and investigate cases. As I understand the Minister's answer, it merely amounts to this, that the first place I have mentioned, namely, the institution, may not be used, but there is nothing in the answers given by the Minister that would preclude the use of the other three places for the purpose of investigating these cases. I wish to say nothing more than that. It puts the point quite specifically before the Parliamentary Secretary, and I hope we may get a perfectly plain answer to what I think is a perfectly plain question, straightly put.

Mr. MARLEY: I want to follow up the point which has been put by my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede). I put a supplementary question, in answer to which the Minister assured me that, where the offices and casual ward were in the same building, that place would not be used. I want a definite assurance upon that point, because in my Division that is the only place where investigation takes place at the moment. There is one entrance on the left-hand side into the casual ward, and the other leads into a yard where the offices of the Poor Law authority and the investigation committee are. I want the assurance made doubly sure that that place will not be used for the investigation. of the claims of these men. It is no use attempting to take away the taint of the Poor Law if you send these people to the very place which is known as the Poor Law institution and the outdoor relief place; and the Ministry ought to be careful, in congested areas like my
own, if they are going to take other premises, to see that they are covered by the Supplementary Estimate. All over London, as far as I have been able to observe, outdoor relief is investigated at the present moment at offices which are next to the casual wards or the institution, and, if premises are going to be taken at a distance from those places, it will involve a much heavier expenditure upon premises and rent than I imagine is covered in the Supplementary Estimate. I hope we shall have a definite assurance that these people will not be examined at these out-relief stations which are commonly known as Poor Law relief stations in practically all the boroughs of London, and are right on top of the casual ward.

Mr. R. MORRISON: Before the House disperses, I hope the hon. Gentleman representing the Ministry of Labour will be able to give us some much better information than we have had up to the present, because before the House reassembles there is going to be considerable confusion in the constituencies and among the local authorities. Public assistance committees to-day are not only faced with all this additional work which is being thrown upon them, but the lead given by the National Government quite recently has been taken up with acclamation by many reactionary public bodies throughout the country. I gave an example at Question Time to-day that is going to mean additional work for some of the sub-committees of public assistance committees. The Middlesex County Council, the wealthiest in the Kingdom, thought they would be patriotic and follow the lead of the National Government, and they set up an economy committee of seven persons, who have now commenced to make drastic cuts in all directions. The blind persons sub-committee is recommending that half-a-crown a week be cut off the allowances. That will make additional work for the public assistance committee. In addition, the public assistance committees throughout Middlesex—and I expect the same thing is happening in other counties—yesterday found that they had instructions to reduce the scale of unemployment relief by 2s. 9d. a week. That means that all cases of unemployment relief will have to be reviewed and the circumstances gone into again and reductions made. On top of all this,
probably within three months nearly 1,000,000 unemployed men are going to be brought before the public assistance committees to have their conditions investigated and have a Poor Law test put upon them. It does not seem to be a matter of great importance to me whether the Poor Law test is put upon them in a Poor Law institution or anywhere else. It is what actually happens that matters, and not the place in which it takes place.
The question I endeavoured to put at Question Time was whether it was intended that public assistance committees should hold meetings in the Employment Exchanges. Has any arrangement been made, or have any negotiations taken place between the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health in order that public assistance committees should hold their meetings and examine applicants inside the Employment Exchanges? I hope that before we rise, the Parliamentary Secretary will give us some clear understanding as to what is going to take place. These members of public assistance committees work in a voluntary capacity. They give a great deal of time to a very thankless job. It was bad enough before the National Government came, and now they are to add to it the question of cutting down the allowances of blind people and cutting down outdoor relief allowances to unemployed people; and on top of that they are going to be asked to deal with the ordinary unemployed.
I can scarcely believe that the Government are going to rush into this thing and risk a breakdown of the whole machinery. We certainly have had no information that adequate arrangements have been made. Several things have happened within the last few weeks which have not happened in the lifetime of the oldest Member of the House. The British Navy has refused to do its duty, and there have been riots of unemployed men in many of the large towns. The teachers are in a state of discontent that has never been equalled in my lifetime. If that is going to take place before the Actual work of cutting down the unemployment benefit has really commenced, I am afraid there is going to be even more confusion when the job is tackled within the next few weeks. I hope the Parliamentary Secretary will be able to
reassure us that the Ministry of Labour, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, have really made adequate arrangements to carry out this very difficult job, otherwise the responsibility for any disturbances that may happen will rest upon them.

Mr.. LO GAN: I am most anxious to see that some kind of genuine working arrangement is arrived 'at, knowing the difficulty, in view of the Dissolution, that you may be rushed into doing things that may be wrong from the point of view of administration. There is a conflict of opinion, or rather, to be quite correct about it, there is no opinion at all. Neither the Ministry of Labour nor the Ministry of Health has any idea in regard to how this thing is to be managed. No man living knows what you intend to do, and no body of guardians knows what the instructions are in respect of the Orders that you are going to issue. I should imagine, in view of the great gatherings of unemployed that we have had in the large cities, that one of the most deplorable sights would be an organised body of people having no definite place to go to, with no one able to tell them where they have to go. It is useless to talk about granting money when we do not know what we are granting it for. We have done many things in the House without knowing what we have been doing, and we have seen the result of it on those benches.
We see it to-day. We have to face the people and tell them what you mean, and we do not know what you mean yet. If there is any time when you ought to know your minds, it is to-day. We have been long enough trying to find out whether you know your mind. Now there is a doubt, and we are entitled to know. To what board are applicants for assistance to go? Where will their claims be tried? We are told that it will not be in a Poor Law institution and not at the Ministry of Labour. What offices are you going to set up where these people are to be dealt with? I do not know any in Liverpool which will come under any designation in accordance with the answer we have had given us to-day. Surely we are not going to use the banks to deal with these cases. Surely we are not going to have a concentration of banking houses where the committees will hold their meetings.
I do not want to tax your brains too much by asking pertinent questions. It is not wise at this moment to put too many pertinent questions to you, but the people whom I represent will be more pertinent than I have been, and they want to know. I am going back to Liverpool, and I do not want to get the information in the newspapers. That is where I have got most of my political information from. I am face to face with the Minister now. Will he tell me what Department it is to be in? Rather than set up establishments, would it not be wiser that these boards of guardians and members of public assistance committees, co-opted and elected, should go to the Ministry of Labour to deal with these cases, from the point of view of expense and from the point of view of the stigma of the Poor Law We shall relieve your anxiety, which I want to protect, and see that you come back again. I am most anxious about that. I am most anxious that the taint of pauperism shall not be placed upon our people. Can we have a plain answer as to whether you are going to use the present buildings either of the Poor Law institutions or of the Ministry of Labour, or whether you are going to use the Ministry of Labour offices only, so that the members of public assistance committees will deal with those cases inside the Ministry of Labour offices?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Milner Gray): The speeches which have been addressed to the House have shown a genuine anxiety on the part of Members of the House to know exactly what will take place with regard to this matter. I will try to explain the procedure as far as it can be explained, for Members will realise that we are having to carry out an entirely new service as far as the Ministry of Labour are concerned. The unemployed who will become applicants for transitional payments will remain essentially under the care of the Ministry of Labour. We are not turning them over either to the Poor Law or to anything else. They remain in our care, and under the Acts that have been passed their needs have to be ascertained before they can receive transitional payment. Therefore, what we have to do is to make arrangements for the assessing of their needs.
It has been decided—I am not going to discuss here whether it is right or wrong—that it is better to use the existing machinery for the purpose. Although it is used by other bodies and for a different class of persons, it is better to use the machinery which exists. Therefore, we are using the Poor Law assistance committees, who, acting as our agents, will assess the claims and the amounts to be received. As a result of that, we have had to negotiate with the Ministry of Health, and in conjunction with the Ministry of Health we are trying to arrange the most satisfactory arid effective method of carrying out the task.
I do not know that I can add in detail very much more to what the Minister said in reply to a question at Question Time to-day. Our desire is to keep this class of applicant as distinct and as remote as possible from what may be regarded as the ordinary administration of the Poor Law. That is why we have at least gone as far as saying that we do not propose, and will riot consent, except in very exceptional circumstances, to their going to a Poor Law institution. Arising out of that, a number of specific questions have been put. to me in regard to a specific city as to whether a place which is being used for dealing with Poor Law cases at the present time is part of an institution. I submit to hon. Members that it is impossible for me to give a detailed answer on a specific case as to what will be done in a specific city when this procedure is being carried out. All that the House can expect from me, I think, is that we should be quite open and plain—and I always try to be that in this House—and say what we intend to try to carry out. Our object is to get the assessment of these claims made with the minimum of friction, annoyance, and discomfort.
We know quite as well as hon. Members opposite that none of the applicants is likely to like this procedure, but we have to find some means of assessing the claims. I can assure the House that at the Ministry of Labour we shall do our utmost to remove the stigma of the Poor Law as far as possible. We do not regard that as applying to these cases at all. You have to remember that we are acting in conjunction with a public authority
which is not the Ministry of Labour. The public assistance committees are public bodies. We shall use the Employment Exchanges where there is accommodation in the Exchanges, and where the public assistance committees find that they can work in that way. The intention of the Ministry of Labour is to do all that we possibly can to remove sources of friction which can be avoided, and, as regards taking fresh buildings, where it is necessary and where it is the most satisfactory and economical way of dealing with the matter, the Ministry have decided that we shall not resist the extra cost which may be involved of taking new and fresh premises where the taking of fresh premises is justified. The House must realise that we ourselves are having to explore a new situation and to work out a new procedure, and I do not think the House would ask me to do more than I have done in saying that we will do our very utmost to avoid any discomfort or friction which we can possibly help.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read the Third Time, and passed.

The remaining Government Orders were read, and postponed.

Mr. SPEAKER: I understand that a Royal Commission is -to be held at Four o'Clock.

MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.

That they have agreed to—

Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) (No. 2) Bill,

Foodstuffs (Prevention of Exploitation) Bill,

Sunday Performances (Temporary Regulation) Bill, without Amendment.

ROYAL ASSENT.

Message to attend the Lords Commissioners.

The House went; and having returned,

Mr. SPEAKER: (standing in the Clerk's place at the Table): I have to acquaint the House that the House has been to the House of Peers, where a Commission, under the Great Seal, was read, authorising the Royal Assent to—

1. Appropriation (No. 2) Act, 1931.
1122
2. Foodstuffs (Prevention of Exploitation) Act, 1931.
3. Sunday Performances (Temporary Regulation) Act, 1931.
4. Ardrossan Harbour Order Confirmation Act, 1931.
5. Ministry of Health Provisional Order (Chepping Wycombe) Act, 1931.
6. London Electric, Metropolitan District, and Central London Railway Companies (Works) Act, 1931.

PROROGATION.

HIS MAJESTY'S MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH.

Mr. SPEAKER: I have further to acquaint the House that the Lord High Chancellor, being one of the High Commissioners, delivered His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament in pursuance of His Majesty's Command as followeth:

MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

MY relations with Foreign Powers continue to be friendly.

I have been following with interest and sympathy the resumed deliberations of the Round Table Conference. I trust that joint endeavour may produce an agreement on a plan which will commend itself to the judgment of wise statesmanship.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

I thank you for the provision you have made for the public service.

MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF COMMONS,

In the last few weeks My people have been called upon to face a financial and economic crisis which continues to give cause for anxiety. The measures taken by My Ministers, with the support of Parliament, to meet this emergency, involve sacrifices from every member of the community. I am confident that, as on former occasions in the history of the Country, every citizen will cooperate to the utmost of his power in restoring prosperity to the Nation.

I have given My assent to Measures necessary to balance the National Budget.

An Act has been passed to amend the law relating to the Gold Standard.

My assent has also been given to a Measure to ensure the public against exploitation in regard to the supply or price of certain articles of general consumption.

In bidding you farewell, I earnestly commend you to the merciful protection and guidance of Almighty God.

Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read in the House of Lords:

After which the LORD CHANCELLOR said:

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons.— By virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords
directed, and now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name and in obedience to His Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday, the Twenty-seventh day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-one, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued until Tuesday, the Twenty-seventh day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-one.

End of the Second Session (opened Tuesday, 28th October, 1930) of the Thirty-fifth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Twenty-second year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Fifth.